Valve mechanism



MaY 30, 1939 P. s. HARPER Er AL 2,160,358

VALVE MECHANI SM Filed Jan. ll, 1957 l or l Patented May 30, 1939 VALVE MEcHANI'sM Philip S. Harper and George F. Turner,` Chicago, Ill., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-fourth to said Philip S. Harper and onehalf to Carolyn L. Harper, both of Chicago, Ill., and one-fourth to Philip-S. Harper and Carolyn L. Harper, as trustees Application January 11, 1937, Serial No. 119,982

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved valve mechanism, and more particularly to an improved detent and plug locating and seating mechanism for valves.

plug I5 which is rotatable in the valve seat. The

valve stem I6 is connected to the valve plug I5 and, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, this valve stem is non-circularin cross-section. Inv

5 The invention is especially adapted for use with theiorm shown the valve stem is a cylindrical 5 valves such as used in gas stoves or the like, and rod having one lateral portion removed. The particularly in connection with multiple valves valve stem is provided with an operating handle for use with burners having a plurality of sec- I1, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. tions, although it may be used with other valves. 'I'he closure member I8 is secured to the valve 10 With valves of the character described it is dehousing II by means of the screws I9 and 20. l0

sirable to have one or more definite intermediate valve positions in addition to the usual open and closed positions. Such intermediate valve positate. The detent member 22 is loosely tted on tions may dene predetermined flows through the the valve stem I6. It has a non-circular opening valve or may correspond to registration of dii'- through which the valve stem passes, but which 15 ferent valve ports with different valve housing opening is slightly larger than the valve stem so passages or discharge passages for multiple burnas to permit a small amount of relative movement er control. between 'the stem and detent. `It is an object of the present invention to pro- As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the opening vide a new and improved valve mechanism. 2'3 in the detent member is provided with a some- 20 It is a further object to provide a new and what pointed-surface 24 which engages the flatimproved valve locating detent and particularly tened side of the valve stem I6 to permit a rocksuch a detent which gives an audible indication ing of the detent member on the valve stem of detent position; through a limited arc. The closure I8 has a stop 25 -It is also an object to provide a detent for use portion 25 which is pressed inwardlyy to be en- 25 with a plug valve in which the detent mechagaged by shoulders 26 and 2l on vthe detent memnism coacts to maintain the plug in itsbearing ber 22. The detent member 22 is provided with or seat. a plurality of raised portions 28 which, in the It is an additional object to provide a detent form of construction shown, consist in drive in which the coacting parts are designed to miniscrews threaded into the detent member. These 30 mize wear and reduce friction. drive screws are preferably provided with smooth It is a further object to provide a device which hardened heads which are adapted to engage in is simple in design and construction and is adaptcorresponding perforations 29 formed in the cloed for commercial production. 'sure member I8. In the form of construction Other and further objects will appear as the shown, there are three raised portions 28 and 35 ldescription proceeds. three openings 29 which are uniformly spaced We have shown a preferred embodiment of our about the axis of the Valve stem I6. n invention in the accompanying drawing, in The spring 38 is coiled about the valve stem I6 whichbetween the end of the plug I 5 and the under 40 Figure 1 is an elevation of the valve construcsurface of the detentmember 22. This spring is 40 tion; under compression and serves the double func- Figure 2 is a plan view of the construction .Y tion of maintaining the valve plug in its seat and shown in Figure 1; of urging the detent member 22 yieldingly against Figure3 is a transverse section taken on line the under side of the closure member I8. 3-3 of Figure 1; A The details of the construction and design of 45 Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line the valve passages and ports form no part of the 4 4 of Figure 1; and present invention and have not been illustrated. Figure is a fragmentary, longitudinal section 1t will be apparent from the relationship of showing the detent construction. the shoulders 26 and 21 and the stop member 25 The valve mechanism comprises a housing II as clearly shown in Figure4 that the detent mem- 50 having a pair of discharge nozzles I2 and I3 ber 22 may be rotated somewhat less than 180 which may serve to direct the ilow of combustidegrees, but that the valve stem I6 and-valve plug ble gas to any desired type of4 burner. As shown I5 may therefore be rotated through substanin Figure 5, the housing II is provided with a tially a full 180 degrees because of the arcuate play between the parts. With the perforations 55 conical valve seat M in which is tted a valve This closure I8 is provided with a circular Iopening 2I so that the valve stem I6 may freely ro- 29 and raised portions 28 located as shown in the drawing, the raised portions fit into the perforations at one limit of rotation of the valve stem and at a position spaced 120 degrees from this .limit of rotation. The valve stern and detent member may be then rotated through a further `arc of 60 degrees at the end of which the shoulder 21 engages the stop 25 but the raised portions 28 are not fitted into the perforations 29. It will be understood that the number and arcuate spacing of the raised portions 28 and their corresponding perforations may be varied according to the design and desired operation of the valve plug and passages.

One use of a detent of this character would consist in the valve passages all being closed,

with the parts in the position in which they are shown in Figures 3 and 4 and with the raised portions seated in the perforations. A rotation of the valve in the counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figures 3 and 4, through an arc of approximately 120 degrees may serve to open the flow of gas through the valve to one of the two discharge nozzles I2 or I3. The raised portions 28 will be seated in the perforations 29 at this position and will serve both to inform the operator that the position has been reached and to maintain ,the parts at adjusted position. A

further rotation of the valve through the remaining possible arc of movement will bring the shoulder 21 against the stop 25 and in this position it may be arranged that the gas flows to both of the nozzles I2 and I3.

The rounded character of the raised portions 28 serves to yieldingly hold them in the perforations 29 and a moderaterotational thrust will serve to unseat the raised portions 28 from the perforations, the plate 22 pressing back against the spring 38, and the Valve can be rotated as desired. The loose connection between the detent 22 and the valve stem I6 has an important function in that it permits the raised portions to snap into the perforations with an audible click so as to clearly advise thek user that the position has been reached. Due to the rotational thrust permitted by theopening 23, shaped as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the rounded surfaces of the raised portions 28 and the pressure of the spring 30 causes the detent member 22l to snap a slight rotational arc when the rounded portions begin to pass opposite the perforations 29. The raised portions 28 are preferably evenly spaced around the axis of the valve stem I6 so as to give a uniform bearing' for the detent member against the closure member and to prevent any eccentric twisting movement of the detent plate which might cause it to bind against the valve stem I8.

It will be understood that our valve detent construction may be used with a variety of forms of valves and serves to maintain the valve plug in any desired predetermined positions. While we have shown certain preferred embodiments of our invention it is to be understood that these are illustrative only, as the construction is subject to change and variation to meet different conditions and requirements, and we contemplate such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a valve construction, a valve housing, a valve plug rotatable therein, a closure secured to the housing and having an opening therein, a valve stem connected to the valve plug and extending from the housing through the opening in the closure, a detent disc located between the valve housing and closure and rotatable by the valve stem, the detent disc having a limited ro- .tary play relative to the valve stem, a spring urging the plug against its seat and the detent disc toward the inner face of the closure, the closure and detent disc being provided with at least three substantially evenly spaced relieved portions adjacent the valve stem on one member and coacting rounded raised portions on the other member adapted to engagein the relieved portions of the other member under pressure of the spring.

2. In a valve construction, a valve housing, a valve plug rotatable therein, a closure secured to the housing and having an opening therein, a valve stem connected to the valve plug and extending from the housing through the opening in the closure, a detent disc located between the valve housing and closure and rotatable by the valve stem, a spring urging the plug against its seat and the detent disc toward the inner face of the closure, the closure and detent disc being provided with at least three substantially evenly spaced relieved portions adjacent the valve stem on one member and coacting rounded raised portions on the other member adapted to engage in the relieved portions of the other member under pressure of the spring, and stop means formed on the closure with coacting stop shoulders on the detent disc to form a xed stop for the valve.

PHILIP S. HARPER. GEORGE F. TURNER.

. CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,160,558'. 'my 5o, 1959. PHILIP S. HARPER. ET AL.

-It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneously issued to the inventors, said "Philip S. Harper" and "George F. Turner", assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, of `one-fourth to said Philip S. Harper and onefhalf to Carolyn L.. Harper, and one-fourth to Philip S. Harper and Carolyn L. Harper, as Trustees, whereas said patent should have been issued to the inventors, Philip S. Harper and George F. Turner, of Chicago, Illinois, assignors, by direct and `mesne assignnents, ot onefourth t'o Philip S. Harper and one-fourth to Carolyn L. Harper, both of Chicago, Illinois, one-fourth to Carolyn' L. Harper andI Philip S. Harper, as Trustees, and one-fourth to Philip S. Harper and Carolyn Harper, as

Trustees, as shown by the record of assignments in this office; page 2,

first colmnn, line 50, after the word "snap" insert ahead; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this 'correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 22nd day' of August, A. D. 1959.

. Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Connnissioner of Patents. 

